Barrel moving device for guns

ABSTRACT

A barrel moving device for guns, moving the guns and a barrel relative to each other, which comprises two members constituting a hydropneumatic counter-recoil mechanism and a hydraulic barrel mover. The members comprise cylinders effective in the same direction, and a piston and a piston rod rigidly connected therewith. A beam body is provided and the piston reciprocates in the cylinders. The latter are secured to the beam body. A part connects the counter-recoil mechanism with the gun. The piston rod is connected with the part and comprises a hollow cylinder having a movably mounted separation disc therein. The separation disc is charged on one side with a gaseous medium and on the other side with a hydraulic fluid. The counter-recoil mechanism and the barrel mover are hydraulically connected by valve means, and a first conduit leads to the cylinder of the barrel mover, a second conduit leads to the cylinder of the counter-recoil mechanism, and the conduits include each a shut-off valve for closing the conduits.

United States Patent Wiemers w lMarch 13, 1973 BARREL MOVING DEVICE FOR GUNS [75] inventor: Karl-Josef Wiemers, Dusseldorf, [57] ABSTRACT Germany A barrel moving device for guns, moving the guns and [73] Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH, Duss a barrel relative to each other, which comprises two Germany members constituting a hydropneumatic counterrecoil mechanism and a hydraulic barrel mover. The [22] F'led: 1970 members comprise cylinders effective in the same [21] A L N 98,731 direction, and a piston and a piston rod rigidly connected therewith. A beam body is provided and the iston reci rocates in the c linders. The latter are [30] Foreign Apphcatlon Pnonty Data Secured to the beam body A part connects the Dec.24, 1969 Gennany ..P 19 64 896.5 counter-recoil mechanism with the gun. The piston rod is connected with the part and comprises a hollow U-S. cylinder having a movably mounted eparation disc Int. Cl. "F41f therein The eparation disc is charged on one ide [58] Field of Search ..89/43 R with a gaseous medium and on the other Side with a hydraulic fluid. The counter-recoil mechanism and the [56] References C'ted barrel mover are hydraulically connected by valve UNITED STATES PATENTS means, and a first conduit leads to the cylinder of the barrel mover, a second conduit leads to the cylinder of 1,074,541 9/1913 Dawson et al. ..89/43 R the coumebrecoi] mechanism and the conduits clude each a shut-off valve for closing the conduits. Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley Attorney-Ernest G. Montague 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 3 12 M. ll 7 22 2120 18 7 1s l 1.

PATENTEUHARI sma 3.720.132

BARREL MOVING DEVICE FOR GUNS The present invention relates to a barrel moving device for guns, which moves the gun and the barrel relative to each other and which comprises a hydropneumatic counter-recoil mechanism and a hydraulic barrel mover, which are formed so as, to be effective in the same direction, as cylinders with a piston reciprocating therein and with a piston rod rigidly connected therewith and secured on the cylinder side on a beam body, whereby the piston rod is forcibly connected on a part connecting the counter-recoil mechanism with the gun and designed as a hollow cylinder with a separating disc movably mounted therein, which separating disc is charged, on the one hand, by a gaseous medium and, on the other hand, by a hydraulic liquid.

Arms or weapons, and in particular guns, should be easily transportable, in order to be able to change quickly the firing position, to be small in its silhouette during moving operations, in order to offer the enemy as low as possible engagement face, and simultaneously to be ready for firing within the shortest possible time after the setting up of a firing position. In order to meet these requirements, devices are provided on the guns, which make it possible, to assure not only the functioning of the weapon during firing, but also to displace the barrel into a rearward securing and traveling-position, respectively. These devices comprise a counter-recoil mechanism and a barrel mover, which can be served independently from each other whereby, however, normally, for the operation of the barrel mover, the counter-recoil mechanism must be released either on the barrel or on the beam by means of coupling elements. Only thereafter can the barrel be displaced into the rearward securing-and traveling-position, respectively. The barrel can, however, also be displaced rearwardly against the force of the counter-recoil mechanism, whereby several mt (metric tons) of energy has to be overcome by means of a great force-and time-expenditure, which cannot be expected from the operators of the gun. These devices operate either mechanically, hydraulically or hydropneumatically and hydromechanically, respectively.

Counter-recoil mechanisms in combination with a barrel brake are known, in which'a hydraulic medium disposed in front of a piston during displacement of the cylinder against the piston by the latter is pressed into a hollow piston rod by means of known valve-and throttle-devices, and thereby moves a separation disc mounted flyingly in the piston rod, which separating disc is charged, on the one hand, with a gas-and air-like medium, respectively, under pressure and, on the other hand, with a hydraulic fluid. It has been found to be disadvantageous, that this counter-recoil mechanism is compressed during operation, since in this state a ringshaped air pillow exists between the piston rod and the counter-recoil cylinder, so that the created heat cannot be fed off.

It has been found as unfavorable also, that neither the (air-) gas-nor the oil-pressure and-stand, respectively, is controllable.

in order to shift to the rearward traveling position, an unusually high working expenditure is necessary. Furthermore, this brake counter-recoil mechanism stands then constantly under pressure, so that it must be separated from the barrel either by a cumbersome securing device in this position, or also, in order to maintain the hydraulic pressure as low as possible, by coupling elements. This, always involves some time expenditure.

It has been proposed already, to remove these drawbacks by a hydropneumatic counter-recoil mechanism, which is hydraulically as well as also pneumatically connected with a balancing cylinder, whereby the two media are separated from each other by means of a separating disc flyingly mounted in the balancing cylinder. By the simultaneous use of these two different media, the counter-recoil mechanism is used by means of suitable locking devices and valves also as a barrel mover. Disadvantageously in this arrangement, during firing, the piston of the counterrecoil cylinder is pulled backwardly against the air-or gas-volume, and a strong suction effect is created on the opposite side of the piston, so that by means of a valve a connection for communication with the atmosphere must be created. By this arrangement the piston sealings are no longer wetted constantly with liquid and the sealings are destroyed within a short time period, so that with dry piston sealing the airor gas-volume necessary for a trouble free operation can escape.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a barrel moving device, which avoids the drawbacks of the known structures and which can be served in addition very easily, which makes possible a spaceand cost-saving structure, which has a long life, which can be easily repaired, which makes possible by a good cooling of the liquid medium, a longer firing without firing pause, and which has a device which makes it possible to provide, to control and to regulate, as required, at any time, the hydraulic pressure required for the function of the counter-recoil mechanism in a simple manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a barrel moving device for guns, wherein the counter-recoil mechanism and the barrel mover are connected together hydraulically by means of a valve, whereby the feeding to the barrel moving cylinder as well as to the counter-recoil cylinder can be interrupted by a shut-off valve. By an either separated or compact structure arrangement of the individual elements, the most favorable securing place as to its seat can be chosen on the gun for the cylinders.

Based on the valve, the hydraulic quantity can be maintained small, since the liquid quantity not required in the one cylinder can be used for the movement of the other cylinder.

By the shut-off valves either the barrel mover is fixed in its rearward position, or also the liquid quantity required for the function of the counter-recoil mechanism is maintained constant as to its volume.

In accordance with the present invention between the valve in the feedings to the shut-off valves, an adjustable safety valve is provided such, that upon the charging of the counter-recoil mechanism with hydraulic liquid, the latter flows backwardly, upon reaching an adjustable pressure, by means of the safety valve, into the storage container.

By this safety valve, it is brought about, that always an exactly predetermined liquid pressure is not surpassed in the counter-recoil mechanism, so that always equal operational conditions, assuming always the same gas pressure, can be based for the function of the counter-recoil mechanism, particularly in view of the fact, that the liquid in the rest position of the counterrecoil mechanism should be substantially without pressure.

ln accordance with the present invention, the hydraulic liquid, contained in an annular chamber of the counter-recoil mechanism, is connected by means of bores leading through the piston into the piston rod and a return valve in addition to coordinated throttle bores, with the liquid present in the hollow piston rod, which liquid is disposed, on the one hand, between the wall of the cylinder and the piston rod and, on the other hand, between the piston backside and a closing cover, which is sealed against thecylinder and the piston rod, and in the rest position of the counter-recoil mechanism, is substantially without pressure.

By this arrangement of the hydraulic liquid and of the air'or gas-volume in the counter-recoil mechanism it is brought about, that their dynamic sealings are not charged in the rest position, since the liquid coming into engagement with these sealings is substantially without pressure. Thus, the life of the sealings is appreciably extended.

Furthermore, this counter-recoil mechanism can always feed, in view of its structure, the heat forming during operation, by means of the cylinder-and/or piston rod-wall, directly to the air surrounding the counterrecoil mechanism. Thus, an optimum cooling of the liquid medium is obtained.

It has been found as advantageous also, in case of a necessary repair, for instance, in order to renew a packing or sealing, that upon removal of the closing cover, which is preferably screwed with the cylinder, the piston can be moved out from the counter-recoil cylinder. The gas-or air-volume in the hollow piston rod does not require release during the disassembly of the counter-recoil mechanism, except in case of a defect of a separation disc packing or of the safety valve, so that the arrangement, upon exchange of the faulty part, is repaired within a short time period. Any lost hydraulic liquid can be supplemented from the board hydraulic present in most weapons or another storage container.

In order to be able to examine at any time, whether the required liquid volume is present in the counterrecoil mechanism, in accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the counter-recoil mechanism is equipped with an oil indication piston, which is formed as a cylindrical hollow body equipped at one side with a collar, which hollow body is guided on the inside of the piston rod and on the outside on the inner wall of the cylinder and is sealed against both, and whereby this oil indication piston is charged, on the one hand, by the hydraulic liquid and, on the other hand, by the force of a helical pressure spring, which supports itself on the one side on the collar of the oil indication piston and, on the other hand, on the releasably disposed closing cover.

By means of this device, the present oil quantity can be read any time. This is of particular importance in case of strong temperature deviations, since by this arrangement it is indicated, whether in case of lower temperatures the oil quantity required during firing for the proper function of the counter-recoil mechanism is present, and whether after longer firing the liquid has heated up and has expanded, respectively, and whether a firing pause has to be arranged for the cooling off of the liquid.

In case after each firing, the oil pressure, which is readable on the oil indication piston, in spite of previous adjustment should increase again, then the separation disc packing in the hollow piston rod is defective, the gas or air pressure escapes with each firing into the hydraulic liquid and causes a pressure increase in the hydraulic annular chamber. The error source is thus capable of being immediately localized.

A further advantage of the barrel movement device, in accordance with the present invention, resides in the fact, that dynamic sealings or packings are constantly wetted with hydraulic liquid. By this arrangement the feared dry running of the sealings or packings and thereby fast wear thereof is avoided. The arrangement is thus to a great extent free of any service requirement, connected with a long life.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which, the only FIGURE discloses an elevation, partly in section of one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, a driver 1 secured to the gun barrel is connected with a piston rod 4 disposed parallel to the barrel and corresponding with a counterrecoil mechanism 3 by means of a connecting part 2, in which piston rod 4 is arranged a gas pressure chamber 5. A piston 6 is rigidly disposed on the piston rod 4, which piston 6 is axially displaceably mounted in a cylinder 7 and is sealed off by means of a packing 8 relative to the cylinder 7.

The cylinder end, remote from the connecting part 2 is closed by a screwable bushing 9 is rigidly connected with a beam 10. At the end of the cylinder 7 disposed on the side of the connecting part 2 is provided a screwable closing cover 1 1, whereby between the latter and the piston rod 4 still an oil indication piston 12 is provided, which is formed as a hollow cylinder and is equipped with a collar, in which the sealings or packings l3 and 14 are arranged, which seal off the oil indication piston against the piston rod 4 as well as against the cylinder 7. By a spring 15, which engages, on the one hand, a collar of the closing cover 11 and, on the other hand, a collar of the oil indication piston 12. The latter is displaced against a hydraulic volume, which is disposed in an annular space or chamber 16 between the piston rod 4 and the cylinder wall of the cylinder 7.

In the hollow piston rod 4 there is provided a flyingly mounted separating disc 17, which is sealed off by means of a packing or sealing 18 against the inner wall of the piston rod. This separation disc 17 is charged in the shown embodiment from the gas pressure chamber 5 with a gaseous medium, which is filled in by an opening 19 capable of being sealed off. On the piston side, the separation disc supports itself on an abutment piston 20 which projects into the hollow piston rod 4 and which receives a safety valve device 21, which is known per se, and which abutment piston 20 is forcibly operatively connected with the piston rod 4. This valve device is connected by means of a plurality of cross bores 22 arranged radially in the piston 6 with the annular chamber 16. Furthermore, in addition to the valve device 21, which is disposed centrically, throttle bores 23 are provided which are adjustable axially and which terminate into the cross bores 22.

A barrel mover 24 is additionally rigidly secured on the beam with a barrel moving cylinder 25, in which a piston 26 sealed against the inner wall of the cylinder by means of a packing 27 is axially displaceably mounted with a piston rod 28 rigidly provided on the piston, which piston rod 28 is loosely connected with the connecting part 2.

These two cylinders 7 and 25 are connected together, starting from the counter-recoil mechanism 7, hydraulically by means of a conduit 29, a shut-off valve 30, a valve 31, a pump 32, a storage container 33, the valve 31, a conduit 34 and shut-off valve '35. Between the shut-off valve 30 and the path valve 31, a settable safety valve 36 is connected to the conduit 29, which safety valve 36 terminates between the path valve 31 and the shut-off valve 35 in to the conduit 34.

The method of operation of this barrel moving device is shortly described below:

In order to put the gun barrel into a rearward transportationand securing-position, respectively, the two shut-off valves 30 and 35 are opened. By means of the pump 32 the hydraulic liquid is pumped into the counter-recoil cylinder 25 by means of the path valve 31, which pump pushes back the gun barrel by means of the piston 26, the piston rod 28 and thereby. also the connecting part 2. Thereby simultaneously the piston rod 4 of the counter-recoil mechanism is withdrawn and the hydraulic liquid present in its annular chamber 16 is pushed back by the piston 6 over the conduit 29 and the path valve 31 into the storage container 33, since the counter pressure of the gaseous medium in the hollow piston rod 4 ,onto the flyingly mounted separating disc 17 is so large, that the liquid can extend only through the piston bores and the annular chamber into the storage container. Thus, the liquid of the counter-recoil mechanism is used for the movement of the barrel mover, whereby only a small storage container 33 is necessary. If the rearward position is obtained, the shut-off valve 35 is closed and the pump 32 is put out of operation.

In order to render the gun again ready for firing, the path valve 31 is displaced into the shown position, the shut-off valve 35 is opened and by means of the pump 32 the hydraulic liquid is pumped from the storage container 33 into the annular chamber 16 of the counterrecoil mechanism. During advancing of the counterrecoil piston 6 simultaneously the piston rod 28 and thereby the piston 26 is withdrawn in the barrel moving cylinder 25 by means of the connecting part 2, and the liquid quantity disposed in this cylindrical chamber is pushed by means of the path valve 31 into the storage container 33. As soon as the required pressure is obtained in the counter-recoil mechanism 3, the still further fed oil moved by the pump 32 flows back by means of the safety valve 35, adjusted to a predetermined pressure, into the storage container 32. Simultaneously, this pressure can be read on markings of the oil indicator piston 12, and the shut-off valve 30 is closed, and the gun is ready for firing.

During the firing of a shell, the gun barrel runs due to the gas pressure of the shell backwardly in the horizontal drawn arrow direction and pulls out thereby by means of the connecting part 2, the piston rod 4 from the counter-recoil mechanism 3. The liquid disposed in the annular chamber 16 of the counter-recoil mechanism 3 can extend only through the piston bores 22, the throttle bores 23 and mainly by means of the valve device 21, into the hollow piston rod 4, where it presses against the flyingly mounted separation disc 17, which is charged from the opposite side with an airor gas-like medium, which has been filled in once by the closable opening 19. When the return run energy has been reduced to such an extent, by means of a not particularly shown barrel brake, that it is equal or smaller than the energy of the compressed gaseous medium, the flyingly mounted separation disc 17 is advanced again in the direction towards the abutment piston 20. The liquid can now only escape through the throttle bores 23, since the return valve 21 is closed. The liquid medium flows thus essentially slower back into the annular chamber 16 and moves thereby the piston 6 again into a rest position corresponding with the shown embodiment, which piston pulls again forwardly the gun barrel by means of the hollow piston rod 4 and the connecting part 2.

During this procedure the piston 26 and the piston rods 28 of the barrel mover 24 remain in rest position.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A barrel moving device for guns, for moving said guns and a barrel relative to each other, comprising two members constituting a hydropneumatic counter-recoil mechanism and a hydraulic barrel mover, respectively,

said members each including a cylinder effective in the same direction,

a piston and a piston rod rigidly connected together,

a beam body,

said piston reciprocating in said cylinder of said counter-recoil mechanism,

said cylinders being secured to said beam body,

a part connecting said counter-recoil mechanism with said gun,

said piston rod being connected with said part and comprising a hollow cylinder a movably mounted separation disc disposed in said hollow cylinder,

said separation disc being charged on one side with a gaseous medium and on the other side with a hydraulic fluid,

said counter-recoil mechanism and said barrel mover being hydraulically connected by valve means,

a first conduit leading to said cylinder of said barrel mover,

a second conduit leading to said cylinder of said counter-recoil mechanism, and

said conduits including each a shut-off valve for closing said conduits.

2. The barrel moving device, as set forth in claim 1,

further comprising a storage container communicating with said conduits,

an adjustable safety valve means is disposed between said valve means in said conduits leading to said shut-off valves such, that upon charging said counter-recoil mechanism with hydraulic fluid, the

tion of said counter-recoil mechanism. 4. The barrel moving device, as set forth in claim 3,

wherein said counter-recoil mechanism includes an oil indicalatter flows back upon reaching of a settable presi i hi h comprises a c lind ical hollow sure by means of said safety valve means into said b d i d at one id i h a ll Storage contamersaid hollow body is guided on its inside on said piston 3. The barrel moving device, as set forth in claim 1, rod and on its outside on the inner n f Said f cylinder of said counter-recoil mechanism, and is sa d pistorcil has crossdbores and throttle bores leading 10 Sealed against both,

mm piston to a helical pressure spring, supporting itself, one the a :Z t l h h 1 one hand, on said collar of said oil indication sai coun er-recoi mec amsm as an annu ar iston and, on the other hand, on said closm chamber betwgen Sald cylinder thereof and said :over said oil indication iston bein char ed 0: piston rod receiving hydraulic liquid, and the latter l5 P g g is in communication with the hydraulic fluid conone Side by Sald hydrau 16 quid m said annular chamber and on the other side by said helical prestamed in said hollow-piston rod by means of said Sure S fin bores, said return valve and said throttle bores. 5 Th 5 d t f th l 1 a closing cover sealing against an end of said cylinder h e 1 2 moving evlce as Se or m 0 mm and said piston rod, respectively, and a back side 20 w 16 es l l of said piston define ends of said annular chamber, means, or 1 Sam dynam'c said hydraulic fluid in said annular chamber is sub- Seahngs Sald hydrauhc hqmd' stantially without pressure in an inoperative posi- 

1. A barrel moving device for guns, for moving said guns and a barrel relative to each other, comprising two members constituting a hydropneumatic counter-recoil mechanism and a hydraulic barrel mover, respectively, said members each including a cylinder effective in the same direction, a piston and a piston rod rigidly connected together, a beam body, said piston reciprocating in said cylinder of said counter-recoil mechanism, said cylinders being secured to said beam body, a part connecting said counter-recoil mechanism with said gun, said piston rod being connected with said part and comprising a hollow cylinder a movably mounted separation disc disposed in said hollow cylinder, said separation disc being charged on one side with a gaseous medium and on the other side with a hydraulic fluid, said counter-recoil mechanism and said barrel mover being hydraulically connected by valve means, a first conduit leading to said cylinder of said barrel mover, a second conduit leading to said cylinder of said counter-recoil mechanism, and said conduits including each a shut-off valve for closing said conduits.
 1. A barrel moving device for guns, for moving said guns and a barrel relative to each other, comprising two members constituting a hydropneumatic counter-recoil mechanism and a hydraulic barrel mover, respectively, said members each including a cylinder effective in the same direction, a piston and a piston rod rigidly connected together, a beam body, said piston reciprocating in said cylinder of said counterrecoil mechanism, said cylinders being secured to said beam body, a part connecting said counter-recoil mechanism with said gun, said piston rod being connected with said part and comprising a hollow cylinder a movably mounted separation disc disposed in said hollow cylinder, said separation disc being charged on one side with a gaseous medium and on the other side with a hydraulic fluid, said counter-recoil mechanism and said barrel mover being hydraulically connected by valve means, a first conduit leading to said cylinder of said barrel mover, a second conduit leading to said cylinder of said counter-recoil mechanism, and said conduits including each a shut-off valve for closing said conduits.
 2. The barrel moving device, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a storage container communicating with said conduits, an adjustable safety valve means is disposed between said valve means in said conduits leading to said shut-off valves such, that upon charging said counter-recoil mechanism with hydraulic fluid, the latter flows back upon reaching of a settable pressure by means of said safety valve means into said storage container.
 3. The barrel moving device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said piston has cross bores and throttle bores leading into said piston rod, a return valve, said counter-recoil mechanism has an annular chamber between said cylinder thereof and said piston rod receiving hydraulic liquid, and the latter is in communication with the hydraulic fluid contained in said hollow-piston rod by means of said bores, said return valve and said throttle bores. a closing cover sealing against an end of said cylinder and said piston rod, respectively, and a back side of said piston define ends of said annular chamber, said hydraulic fluid in said annular chamber is substantially without pressure in an inoperative position of said counter-recoil mechanism.
 4. The barrel moving device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said counter-recoil mechanism includes an oil indication piston, which comprises a cylindrical hollow body equipped at one side with a collar, said hollow body is guided on its inside on said piston rod and on its outside on the inner wall of said cylinder of said counter-recoil mechanism, and is sealed against both, a helical pressure spring, supporting itself, one the one hand, on said collar of said oil indication piston and, on the other hand, on said closing cover, said oil indication piston being charged on one side by said hydraulic liquid in said annular chamber and on the other side by said helical pressure spring. 